Rapid Rewinding Tool for Small Spools

ABSTRACT

This tool provides a means to manually rapidly rewind line onto a spool by serving as both an axle to spin the spool on, and a guide to keep the line positioned over the spool barrel while the spool is spun rapidly, taking up the line that has been payed out.

BACKGROUND

The recently invented Golfer's Ball Marker Tool is a spool of 60 feet of fine line in a small form factor. On the end of the line is a hook that is taken off the spool and hooked onto a flagstick. The user then lets the spool spin while walking away from the flagstick and playing out line. There are different methods to rewind this line after a long length has been deployed. One method is to rewind by hand like a yo-yo. However, time is of the essence on a golf course, with possible sanctions on the golfer for slow play. Another method is to spin the spool using a golf tee as an axle. While this is very fast, it is prone to fouling as the line can get off track and onto the axle. The purpose of this invention is to provide a guide for the line, built into the axle, so that the line will continue winding very quickly onto the spinning spool and not foul off onto the axle.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The Rapid Rewinding Tool for Small Spools is a J-shaped device designed for spinning a small spool on it to rewind line that has been payed out. It is a single piece that serves as both axle and line guide. While the spool spins around it, the shorter, upper portion has a guide for the line that keeps the moving line centered above the spool traverse, so that the line can only rewind onto the spool and not wind onto the axle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS

FIG. 1 Shows the top view of the invention lying flat by itself.

FIG. 2 Shows a perspective view as the invention is deployed on a spool of line.

FIG. 3 Shows the invention in use as it directs the line into the traverse of the spool as the spool spins.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As seen in FIG. 1 , the Rapid Rewinding Tool is a J-shaped device made for the longer end to fit through the arbor hole of a small spool, protruding enough to hold between fingers, while the shorter end contains a line guide slit into which the line to be rewound is placed. This line guiding slit is made to be positioned over the center of the spool traverse so that when the line is in the guide slit and the spool is spun around the lower end (as an axle), the incoming line must rewind onto the barrel of the spool and cannot wander outside the barrel's flanges.

FIG. 2 shows the Rewinding Tool inserted through the arbor hole with the line inserted into the guide slit.

FIG. 3 shows the Rewinding Tool in use. The lower (axle) component is held between the index finger and thumb of one hand. Then the thumb of the other hand is used to spin the spool freely as fast as possible, in order to rewind the line that is out as quickly as possible. The upper part of the Rewinding Tool-containing the line guide slit-prevents the line from getting off the spool and winding up on the axle.

After all the line is back onto the spool, the end of the line is removed from the slit and the Rewinding Tool is removed from the spool.

The thickness of the Rewinding Tool relates to the diameter of the arbor hole. It is loose enough to allow the spool to spin at a high rate while tight enough to prevent wobble when spinning the spool. The distance between the longer lower end of the tool and the shorter upper end (that contains the slit) is also chosen to allow just enough clearance for spinning.

The line guide slit is located in the center of the upper (shorter) end of the tool, which places the slit directly over the center of the traverse. 

The invention claimed is:
 1. A handheld apparatus comprising:
 1. A J-shaped member wherein the longer end is a handheld axle and shorter end is a line guide slit.
 2. An apparatus of claim 1, wherein the guide slit is positioned directly above the spool traverse. 